Public Disclosure of Donations over $50,000
Representative Gooden has introduced legislation that seeks to bring transparency to the financing behind think tanks and nonprofits that shape U.S. foreign policy. The proposed legislation requires public disclosure of donations and contributions made by foreign governments or political parties if the value exceeds $50,000.
Uncovering the Influence of Foreign Governments
The bill text, obtained by Fox News Digital, highlights the attempts of foreign governments and political parties to influence the United States government and political system through donations to nonprofit organizations, particularly think tanks and cultural institutions.
While institutions of higher learning are currently required to disclose foreign gifts to the Department of Education, the same requirement does not exist for think tanks. This legislative measure aims to address this gap and shed light on the undisclosed financing behind these influential entities.
Past Calls for Transparency
This move towards transparency is not without precedent. Under the Trump administration, the State Department urged think tanks it engaged with to prominently disclose their sources of funding. Former Secretary of State, emphasized the need for openness and awareness of foreign influence on U.S. foreign policy.
The Biden administration was contacted to determine if this policy remains in effect, but no response has been received from their office at the time of writing.
